Knockdown framing

ABSTRACT

Improved knockdown framing for erection and installation in an access opening of a building for supporting one or more movable panels and one or more fixed panels. The various knockdowned frame elements (such as the header, jamb members, mullions and sill members) are packaged into a compact shipping bundle or package; at the job site the various frame elements are connected together by special connectors which are concealed during the process of erecting and installing the frame. The installed frame thus has the same appearances as a welded frame.

United States Patent Herbert Feb. 5, 1974 KNOCKDOWN FRAMING 3,131,792 5/1964 Groneman et al. 52/731 x 7 6 75 Inventor: Michael B. Herbert, Cincinnati, 1822323 313 355, OhlO 3,389,527 6/1968 52/731 2,972,395 2/1961 287/l89.36 H [73] Asslgnee. gnencan Standard Inc., New York, 2,644,554 7/1953 287/189 H x 22 Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 Primary Examiner-Henry c. Sutherland Assistant ExaminerCa.rl D. Friedman [21] Appl' 226086 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jefferson Ehrlich; Robert G. Crooks [52] US. Cl 52/456, 52/475, 52/731,

287/l89.36 A 57 ABSTRACT [5 Int. Cl. Im d k f f 1;, prove noc own rarnmg or erection and mstal [58] ereld of Search 287/l89.36 A; 52/656, 731, lation in an access Opening of a building for Suppom 52/456 495 ing one or more movable panels and one or more fixed panels. The various knockdowned frame ele- [56] References cued 1 ments (such as the header, jamb members, mullions UNI ED ST PATENTS and sill members) are packaged into a compact ship- 3,352,078 11/1967 Neal 52/731 X ping bundle or package; at the job site the various 3,420,032 1/1969 Felt 52/731 frame elements are connected together by special con- 3,267,629 3/1966 Waring 8! al 1 1 52/495 X nectors which are concealed during the process of erecting and installing the frame. The installed frame e ster 3,423,392 1/1969 Rimington 52 241 thus has the Same appearances as a welded frame 2,611,633 9/1952 Webster.... 287/l89.36 H X 3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures G L AS 5 G L. RS 5 11 1 1 S 5 7 7 mlz l8 1 A 17 L 11 Patented Feb. 5, 1974 v 3,789,561

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 GLASS 22 Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. '7

Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

FIG. 10

KNOCWN rRAMmG THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 through 4 are elevational views of various erected frames utilizing features of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a frame joint taken in line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another frame joint taken generally on line 7--7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view of this FIG. 8 structure taken prior to assembly of the components;

FIG. 10 shows the F IG. 8 structure during the process of assembly;

FIG. 11 illustrates a frame element used in FIG. 8

structure;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a clip structure used on the FIG. II frame elements.

FIG. 1

FIG. 1 shows an assembled framework 8 adapted for installation in an access opening in a building wall 9. The framework comprises a horizontal header 16 extending across the top of the opening side jamb members 12 and 14 extending vertically along the lateral sides of the access opening, an intermediate jamb member 16 extending between floor II and header 10, a sill member .18 extending along the floor, and horizontal mullions 20 and 22 spaced some distance below header 10. The frame elements may be shipped to the job site disassembled from one another, and may be connected together at the site by special connector devices, not visible in FIG. I.

Jamb members 14 and 16 may be provided with suitable hardware at the factory for hanging a movable door panel 17 after the frame has been erected in the building. Various ones of the frames are rabbeted to mount fixed glass panels 19.

In general, the requirement for shipping the frame elements knockdown" arises because of shipping size limitations and the desire to prevent the framework from being damaged during transit. It is a general object of the present invention to provide for shipment of the frame in a completely knockdown condition while still being able to rapidly assemble the frame elements together into a rigid structure, using simple tools such as screwdrivers. A further object is to provide the desired frame rigidity, using frame element connectors that are invisible after the framework is assembled and installed in the building access opening. The invention also aims at achieving a certain degree of versatility in the size and configuration of framework elements that can be shipped knockdown and erected at the job site.

FIGS. 2 through 6 illustrate various frame configurations that can be achieved using the invention. In FIGS. 2 through 6 the headers, sill elements, jamb elements and horizontal mullions are given the same reference numerals as the corresponding frame elements in FIG. 1.

FRAME ELEMENT CONFIGURATION The outer peripheral frame elements, such as elements 10, 12 and 14 are of tubular or channel configuglass panels I9 to retain them in position against the associated rabbet surfaces 23. Certain ones of the rabbet surfaces 23 act as stops for the movable door panels; certain ones of the frame side surfaces 25 act as mounting surfaces for the door hinges.

FRAME ELEMENT CONNECTIONS The peripheral frame elements, such as header l0 and side jambs I2 and I4 can be connected to each other and to the interior frame elements by means of invisible screws threaded into the frame elements from peripheral zones outside the peripheral edge of the framework. FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating a joint between jamb member 14 and mullion 20. As shown in FIG. 5 frame element 14 is a channel having its open mouth adapted to be presented to the building wall 9, and having its web wall 26 presented to the mullion 2t). The mullion carries two welded-on angle iron anchors 28 that align with factory-formed openings 24 in the web wall 26 or channel M. The mullion is connected to channel M before the frame is installed in the building access opening as by threading screws 31 through openings 24 into anchors 28; the threading action serves to place the screws in tension, to thereby cause the mullions to be drawn tightly against channel 14.

The FIG. 5 connection between mullion 20 and frame element I4 can be duplicated at the joints between header III) and each of members I2, I4 and 16. The FIG. 5 connection can also be duplicated at the joint between jamb I2 and frame elements 22 and I8. Each of these joints is an accessible joint in the sense that zones outside the periphery of the framework can be used to thread the connector screws 31 into associated anchors 28, to thereby tension the screws and draw the associated frame elements together. The screws in each case are threaded inwardly from the zones outside the frame periphery. When the frame is installed in the building wall 9 the building wall surfaces conceal the screw connections.

The interior frame elements, such as elements I6, 20 and 22 are not readily interconnected while still preserving invisibility of the connector screws, the reason being that the frame elements themselves prevent desired access to the screws. This lack of accessibility can be overcome by forming interior frame element 16 as an elongated hollow split tube. FIG. 7 illustrates the split tube as comprising a first channel section 30 and a second plate section 32; special snap-action clips 34(FIG. 12) are carried by plate 32 to effect a permanent connection of the tube sections.

While the split tube sections 30 and 32 are still separated from one another they can be connected to the associated mullions and/or sill member, as by screws 36 and 38 (FIG. 7). Thereafter the split tube sections can be snapped together to form the complete tube and at the same time conceal the connector screws 36 and 38. As above noted, special clips 34 are carried on the inner surfaces of one of the tube sections for enabling the tube sections to be locked together. Clips 34 are not shown in FIG. 7. V

SPLT TUBE CONSTRUCTION As shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 and 12, the plate section 32 of the tube carries a number of special clips 34. Each clip includes a base wall 35 welded to the inner face of closure plate 32, and intumed stop walls 37 abutting against an inside surface 39 of the plate; the purpose of each stop wall 37 is to correctly locate the clip so that when the clip is welded to plate 32 its upstanding wall-48 will have the desired locking relation or positionment with respect to flanges 56 and 58 of channel 30.

Each clip wall extends right angularly from base wall 35 to provide a cam surface 41 for co-action with the intumed flange 56 or 58 of the channel 30. The. illustrated clips 34 are formed as sheet metal stampings for example from 16 gauge sheet metal having a thickness in the neighborhood of 0.06 inches. Preferably the clips are spaced along the entire length of closure plate 32 adjacent both edge areas of the plate as shown in FIG. 11. The clip spacing is somewhat arbitrary, but useful results have been achieved with a spacing of 1 foot between adjacent clips. Preferably the clips are staggered so that the clips facing in one direction are midway between the clips facing the other direction. Each clip 34 has its wall 48 arranged at right angles to the general plane of the closure plate 32 so that the closure plate can be snapped onto channel member 30 by movement thereof in the arrow 43 direction (FIG. 10).

Plate 32 may be snapped onto channel 30 by fitting one set of clips 34 onto flange 58 and then moving plate 32 toward channel 30, uing flange 58 as a hinge. Alternately plate 32 could be moved bodily onto channel 30 in a straight linear fashion.

As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, flanges 56 and 58 of channel 30 may be first coated with a film of flowable sealant or caulking 44 along the entire length of the flange. FIG. 9 shows channel member 30 and closure plate 32 in the non-assembled condition; FIG. 10 shows members 30 and 32 during the process of being assembled together. Referring to FIG. 10, after the lower edge of plate 32 is fitted onto flange 58 of member 30, the closure plate 32 is manually forced toward channel 30 so that cam surfaces 41 ride along the inner edge of flange 56 to thereby cause the flange to deflect outwardly in the arrow 46 direction. This outward movement is made possible because channel walls 52 and 54 are relatively long cantilever structures, for example several feet in the longitudinal dimension and one inch or more in the transverse dimension; they have a built-in resilient hinging action about their points of connection 55 with wall 50. Frame member 30 is commonly formed of 14, 16 or 18 gauge sheet steel having a degree of resilience which permits wall 52 and/or wall 54 to have the desired outward motion in the arrow 46 direction.

FIG. 8 shows theposition of the parts after closure plate 32 has been forced to its final installed position against flanges 56 and 58. In the FIG. 8 fully assembled position cam surface 41 has passed leftwardly beyond flange 56, and wall 52 has returned toward its initial position. Edge 57 of clip 34 extends at an acute angle to the adjacent face of plate 32 (for example about radial degrees) so that plate 32 and clip surface 57 cooperatively form V-shaped seats for flanges 58 and 56.

The width of the space between the V-surfaces is preferably slightly less than the width of flange 58 or 56, so that wall 52 and/or wall 54 may not quite return to the initial position. The inwardly acting resilience of wall 52 and/or wall 54 causes flanges 56 and 58 to exert forces in the arrow 60 directions. The clip surfaces 57 in turn redirect these forces so that the flowable sealant (caulking) 44 is squeezed between flanges 56 and/or flange 58 and the face of plate 32. Stated differently, angled edge 57 acts as a cam surface to bias the flanges 56 and 58 tightly against the face of plate 32. The net effect of this camming or biasing action is to apply a squeezing pressure on the sealant and cause it to form a weather proof or liquid proof joint between members 30 and 32. Clips 34 also promote adhesion of the sealant to the wall surfaces to rigidify the assembly into one integral component.

It will be understood that clips 34 are spaced along the entire length of closure plate 32, as shown in FIG. 11, so that the sealant-squeezing forces are obtained along the entire length of the closure plate, therby forming a weather-proof joint for the entire length of the. closure plate. The split tube construction (channel 30 and closure plate 32) can be used on vertical frame members such as members 16, or on horizontal frame members such as members 20 and 22.

CONNECTING THE FRAME ELEMENTS TOGETHER In assembling the FIG. 1 frame elements together, the first step may consist of connecting elements 18, 20 and 22 to plate section 32 of frame element 16; at the same time mullion element 22 may be connected to channel section 30 of frame element 16. FIG. 7 illustrates the general procedure, which involves threading screws 36 and 38 through the respective sections 30 and 32 into the anchors 28 carried by the transverse frame elements. After the transverse elements have thus been connected to sections 30 and 32, said sections may be snapped together to form the so-called interior framework. Thereafter the peripheral frame elements 10, 12 and 14 may be assembled to the exposed ends of the interior frame elements in the general manner shown in FIG. 5. Assembly of the frame structures shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 may be accomplished in generally the same fashion as outlined above. When the frames are installed in the building the connector screws 31, 36 and 38 are invisible.

By using this invention it is possible to ship the frame elements in a compact knockdown condition, and to assemble the frame elements together at the site in a fairly easy and quick operation. The knockdown fea ture is of most importance when the frames are of large size, for example higher or longer than 10 feet.

The erected frames are quite rigid because of the joint constructions. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the frame element having the anchors 28 is notched, as at 29, to fit over the rabbet position 23 of the jamb element. This interfitting of the frame elements provides relatively great strength on the transverse direction 51 (FIG. 6). Load forces are translated into tension forces on the screws 31, 36 and 38, but in practice such tension forces are probably quite small because the frame is within the building access opening where it has little possibility for dislocation or disconnection in the direction of the screws.

I claim:

1. A knockdown frame for permanent installation in a building opening, comprising peripherally-disposed channel frame elements and interiorly-disposed tubu f mqa eman sn t V said peripherally-disposed frame elements being connected to each other and to the interiorly-disposed frame elements by means of tension screws threaded through mated portions of the connected frame elements from points outside the frame peripheral edge, whereby said screws are invisible when the frame is installed in a building;

said interiorly-disposed frame elements being connected to one another by screw connectors that are invisible when the knockdown framing is assembled;

at least one of the interiorly-disposed frame elements comprising a channel member and a closure plate extending across the mouth of said channel member; said closure plate having snapaction clips adapted to interlock with internal surfaces of said channel member to effect an invisible connection therebetween;

said channel member and said closure plate having screw connectors extending therethrough into anchorages in one of the interiorly-disposed frame elements prior to assembly of said closure plate onto said channel member; said channel member being provided with intumed terminal flanges;

said snap-action clips comprising separate clips spaced along the length of said closure plate; each snap-action clip including a clip wall welded onto an internal surface of the closure plate; said clip wall extending right angularly from said closure plate surface and having a curved edge area consitituting a cam surface for spreading the inturned flanges of the channel member away from one another as said closure plate and said channel member are moved toward one another; said clip wall also having an undercut edge area in close proximity to the surface of said closure plate to seat the channel member flanges therebetween when said closure plate abuts against said terminal flanges.

2. A knockdown frame for permanent installation in a building opening, comprising peripherally-disposed frame elements and interiorly-diposed tubular frame glements said interiorly-disposed frame elements being connected to oneanother by screwian nectors located entirely within the tubular elements, whereby said screw connectors are invisible when the knockdown framing is assembled;

at least one of the interiorly-disposed frame elements comprising a channel member and a closure plate extending across the mouth of said channel member; said closure plate having snap-action clips adapted to interlock with internal surfaces of said channel member to effect an invisible connection therebetween;

said channel member and said closure plate having screw connectors extending therethrough into an anchorage in one of the interiorly-disposed frame elements prior to assembly of said closure plate onto said channel member; said channel member being provided with intumed terminal flanges; said snap-action clips comprising separate clips spaced along the length of said closure plate; each snap-action clip including a clip wall welded onto an internal surface of said closure plate, said clip wall extending right angularly from said closure plate surface and having a curved edge area constituting a cam surface for spreading the intumed flanges of said channel member away from one another as said closure plate and said channel member are moved toward one another; said clip wall also having an undercut edge area in close proximity to the surface of the closure plate to seat the channel member flanges therebetween when said closure plate abuts against said terminal flanges. 3. A knockdown frame for permanent installation in a building opening, comprising a channel-shaped header positionable across the top of the access opening, a pair of channel-shaped side frame members arrangeable vertically at respective lateral sides of the access opening, an intermediate hollow vertical frame member adapted to extend downwardly from an intermediate point on the header, and at least one hollow horizontal mullion adapted to extend between a side frame member and the intermediate vertical frame member;

said header and said side frame members being connected to said intermediate frame member and said horizontal mullion by means of tension screws threaded through mated portions of the respective members from points outside the frame peripheral edge, whereby said screws are invisible when the frame is installed in a building; said intermediate frame member comprising a channel member and a closure plate extending across the mouth of said channel member; said closure plate having snap-action clips adapted to interlock with internal surfaces of said channel member to effect an invisible connection therebetween; at least one of said channel members and said closure plate having screw connectors extending therethrough into an anchorage in the horizontal mullion prior to assembly of said closure plate onto said channel member; said channel member being provided with intumed terminal flanges; said snap-action clips comprising separate clips spaced along the length of said closure plate; each snap-action clip including a clip wall welded onto an internal surface of said closure plate, said clip wall extending right angularly from the surface of said closure plate and having a curved edge area constituting a cam surface for spreading the intumed flanges 'of said channel member away from one another as said closure plate and said channel member are moved toward one another; said clip wall also having an undercut edge area in close proximity to the surface of the closure plate to seat said channel member flanges therebetween when said closure plate abuts against said terminal flanges. 

1. A knockdown frame for permanent installation in a building access opening, comprising peripherally-disposed channel frame elements and interiorly-disposed tubular frame elements; said peripherally-disposed frame elements being connected to each other and to the interiorly-disposed frame elements by means of tension screws threaded through mated portions of the connected frame elements from points outside the frame peripheral edge, whereby said screws are invisible when the frame is installed in a building; said interiorly-disposed frame elements being connected to one another by screw connectors that are invisible when the knockdown framing is assembled; at least one of the interiorly-disposed frame elements comprising a channel member and a closure plate extending across the mouth of said channel member; said closure plate having snap-action clips adapted to interlock with internal surfaces of said channel member to effect an invisible connection therebetween; said channel member and said closure plate having screw connectors extending therethrough into anchorages in one of the interiorly-disposed frame elements prior to assembly of said closure plate onto said channel member; said channel member being provided with inturned terminal flanges; said snap-action clips comprising separate clips spAced along the length of said closure plate; each snap-action clip including a clip wall welded onto an internal surface of the closure plate; said clip wall extending right angularly from said closure plate surface and having a curved edge area consitituting a cam surface for spreading the inturned flanges of the channel member away from one another as said closure plate and said channel member are moved toward one another; said clip wall also having an undercut edge area in close proximity to the surface of said closure plate to seat the channel member flanges therebetween when said closure plate abuts against said terminal flanges.
 2. A knockdown frame for permanent installation in a building access opening, comprising peripherally-disposed frame elements and interiorly-disposed tubular frame elements; said interiorly-disposed frame elements being connected to one another by screw connectors located entirely within the tubular elements, whereby said screw connectors are invisible when the knockdown framing is assembled; at least one of the interiorly-disposed frame elements comprising a channel member and a closure plate extending across the mouth of said channel member; said closure plate having snap-action clips adapted to interlock with internal surfaces of said channel member to effect an invisible connection therebetween; said channel member and said closure plate having screw connectors extending therethrough into an anchorage in one of the interiorly-disposed frame elements prior to assembly of said closure plate onto said channel member; said channel member being provided with inturned terminal flanges; said snap-action clips comprising separate clips spaced along the length of said closure plate; each snap-action clip including a clip wall welded onto an internal surface of said closure plate, said clip wall extending right angularly from said closure plate surface and having a curved edge area constituting a cam surface for spreading the inturned flanges of said channel member away from one another as said closure plate and said channel member are moved toward one another; said clip wall also having an undercut edge area in close proximity to the surface of the closure plate to seat the channel member flanges therebetween when said closure plate abuts against said terminal flanges.
 3. A knockdown frame for permanent installation in a building access opening, comprising a channel-shaped header positionable across the top of the access opening, a pair of channel-shaped side frame members arrangeable vertically at respective lateral sides of the access opening, an intermediate hollow vertical frame member adapted to extend downwardly from an intermediate point on the header, and at least one hollow horizontal mullion adapted to extend between a side frame member and the intermediate vertical frame member; said header and said side frame members being connected to said intermediate frame member and said horizontal mullion by means of tension screws threaded through mated portions of the respective members from points outside the frame peripheral edge, whereby said screws are invisible when the frame is installed in a building; said intermediate frame member comprising a channel member and a closure plate extending across the mouth of said channel member; said closure plate having snap-action clips adapted to interlock with internal surfaces of said channel member to effect an invisible connection therebetween; at least one of said channel members and said closure plate having screw connectors extending therethrough into an anchorage in the horizontal mullion prior to assembly of said closure plate onto said channel member; said channel member being provided with inturned terminal flanges; said snap-action clips comprising separate clips spaced along the length of said closure plate; each snap-action clip including a clip wall welded onto an internal surface of said closure plate, said clip wall extending right angularly from the surface Of said closure plate and having a curved edge area constituting a cam surface for spreading the inturned flanges of said channel member away from one another as said closure plate and said channel member are moved toward one another; said clip wall also having an undercut edge area in close proximity to the surface of the closure plate to seat said channel member flanges therebetween when said closure plate abuts against said terminal flanges. 